Jen Beattie has announced her retirement from professional football.
The former Scotland internationalist spent most of her career across two stints at Arsenal and bows out the game after feeling that “the time was right.”
She will now follow in the footsteps of her father John, who is a former rugby union player turned successful BBC broadcaster.
"It's been a long time taken to come to the decision, but it's finally time to retire," said Beattie, who successfully battled breast cancer in 2020 and then earned an MBE three years later.
"That's my announcement today, I'm stepping away from football and the game that I've loved so much. This is my official retirement.
“There's so many reasons for it, I think it's been on my mind for a few seasons now and you never really know when the time is fully right.
"But ultimately I think a lot of other things were really fulfilling me and I felt ready to start that next chapter.
"I've absolutely loved the game and I have so many amazing memories. Going to America and experiencing a different league was amazing but I'm just ready for what's next.
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"I grew up watching my dad do it for rugby and I always thought that was really cool.
"It's amazing the coverage that the women's game gets now and I want to be a part of that. It keeps you close to football. It's also the adrenaline of that live [sport].
"You feel your heart pumping right before. I think that's the closest thing I'll ever get to playing 90 minutes of football in front of a sold-out crowd."
Beattie began her career at Celtic before enjoying a successful stint in England, securing four Women's Super League titles with Arsenal and adding another title with Manchester City.
Her CV also includes a notable period at the French club Montpellier, as well as a loan to Melbourne City in Australia.
In 2024, she made a move to Bay FC in the United States, where she would step out on the pitch for a final time.
After an illustrious international career spanning 144 caps, Beattie announced her retirement from Scotland selection in January 2023.
Reflecting back on her career, the 33-year-old said: “My Scotland [highlight] is scoring at the World Cup against Argentina in a pretty crazy game.
“I did it on the same pitch that my dad scored a try for Scotland and that will always be a huge memory for me.”
